The Russian former double-agent who collapsed in a British town alongside his daughter was targeted with a nerve agent, while a responding policeman has also been hospitalized, UK police said Wednesday.
“This is being treated as a major incident involving attempted murder by administration of a nerve agent,” Metropolitan Police assistant commissioner Mark Rowley told reporters.
Scientific tests by government experts have identified the specific nerve agent used, “which will help identify the source” police said, but Rowley declined to reveal the exact substance.
The Times newspaper reported police are probing whether Skripal’s daughter, who arrived in Britain from Moscow last week with “gifts from friends,” may have brought the nerve agent into the country.
Multiple British media outlets reported Wednesday that Prince William would now not attend this summer’s football World Cup in Russia, citing royal sources.